THE FUTURE OF HOUSES: WHAT REAL-ESTATE ADS TELL ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS

Abstract

This research questions the evolution of people’s preferences by analyzing 6750 real-estate ads published at three different decades (1985, 1995 and 2005) and in three distinct geographic areas of France (North, West and South). Our purpose is to establish the importance, at each time frame and location, of the different elements that compose the house in order to elaborate on the evolution and future of the house. The results show that the evolution of this type of dwelling is twofold: changes in the use of space and changes in the notion of comfort.